KR20160089402A - Channel access deferral mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A method is disclosed for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. The wireless device receives the aggregated data frame from the other device over the wireless channel, determines the transmission duration of the aggregated data frame, and determines, based at least in part on the transmission duration, either an EIFS duration or a DIFS duration Defer access to the channel for a selected time period and send a block acknowledgment frame to another device after a time period.

Description

CHANNEL ACCESS DEFERRAL MECHANISM < RTI ID = 0.0 >

[0001] The present embodiments relate generally to wireless networks, and specifically to block acknowledgments in wireless networks.

[0002] A wireless local area network (WLAN) may be formed by one or more access points that provide a shared wireless communication medium for use by a plurality of client devices or STAs. Each AP capable of responding to a Basic Service Set (BSS) periodically broadcasts beacon frames to enable any STAs in the wireless range of the AP to establish and / or maintain a communication link with the WLAN. Once the STA is associated with the AP, the AP and the STA may exchange data frames. When the STA receives a data frame from the AP, the STA sends an acknowledgment (ACK) frame back to the AP to acknowledge receipt of the data frame.

[0003] Block acknowledgment procedures may allow the STA to acknowledge receipt of multiple data frames using a single ACK frame. More specifically, the STA may use a block acknowledgment (BA) frame to acknowledge receipt of a plurality of data frames and / or a plurality of aggregated data frames, whereby the number of acknowledgment frames transmitted to the AP (And thus preserves the capacity of the shared wireless medium). More specifically, when the block acknowledgment procedure does not use fragmentation, a compressed block acknowledgment (CBA) frame may be used to acknowledge a plurality of aggregated data frames. The CBA frame includes an 8-octet bitmap (e.g., including 8 * 8 = 64 bits) that can be used to acknowledge receipt of up to 64 individual data frames. By limiting the bitmap of the CBA frame to 64 bits, the transmission duration of the CBA frame can be minimized (e. G., Compared to uncompressed BA frames) to reduce traffic on the wireless medium.

[0004] When the aggregated data frame includes decoding errors, it may be desirable to minimize the amount of time the wireless device delays access to the wireless medium associated with the WLAN.

[0005] These embodiments are not intended to be limited by the illustrations of the examples and the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a WLAN system in which at least some of the embodiments may be implemented.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a wireless station (STA) in accordance with some embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 3A illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary exchange of frames between wireless devices using a basic (e.g., relatively low) transmission rate.
[0009] Figure 3B illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary exchange of frames between wireless devices using a fast (e.g., relatively high) transmission rate, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 4A is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation for selecting a size of a block acknowledgment bitmap according to some embodiments.
[0011] Figure 4B is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation for determining a transmission rate of frames received from another wireless device in accordance with some embodiments.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary sizes of extended block acknowledgment (EBA) frames and their corresponding transmission durations for various transmission rates, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary transmission rates and transmission durations for block acknowledgment frames including block acknowledgment bitmaps of various sizes.
[0014] FIG. 7A illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary frame exchange through a response EBA frame and dual EIFS truncation in accordance with some embodiments.
[0015] Figure 7B illustrates a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary EFA frame and an exemplary frame exchange with a single EIFS truncation in accordance with some embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 7C shows a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary frame exchange via a response EBA frame, a single EIFS truncation, and an EIFS duration after an EBA frame, in accordance with some embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 7D shows a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary frame exchange through a response EBA frame, a single EIFS truncation, and an EIFS duration after an EBA frame, in accordance with other embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 7E shows a sequence diagram illustrating an exemplary EIFS frame, a first EIFS truncation via RTS transmission, and an exemplary frame exchange through a second EIFS truncation via CTS transmission.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation for deferring access to a wireless channel in accordance with some embodiments.

[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in the context of data exchanges between Wi-Fi enabled devices for simplicity's sake only. It should be understood that the embodiments are equally applicable to data exchanges using signals of various different wireless standards or protocols. As used herein, the terms "WLAN" and "Wi-Fi" refer to the IEEE 802.11 standard family, Bluetooth® (Bluetooth), HiperLAN (a set of wireless standards comparable to IEEE 802.11 standards, , And communications controlled by other technologies having a relatively short radio propagation range. Also, although described herein with respect to the exchange of data frames between wireless devices, these embodiments may be applied to the exchange of any data unit, packet and / or frame between wireless devices. The term "data frame" thus includes any frame, packet or data, such as, for example, protocol data units (PDUs), MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) and physical layer convergence procedure protocol data units (PPDUs) Unit. ≪ / RTI > The term "A-MPDU" may refer to aggregated MPDUs. Also, as used herein, the term "compressed block acknowledgment (CBA) frame" may refer to BA frames comprising 8 bytes or a block acknowledgment bitmap of octets, while the term "extended block acknowledgment frame "may refer to BA frames containing a block acknowledgment bitmap of more than 8 bytes or octets (e.g., 32 bytes, 64 bytes, 128 bytes, etc.).

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, circuits, and processes in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term "coupled" means directly connected or connected through one or more intervening components or circuits. In the following description and for the purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is provided to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details may not be required to practice the embodiments. In other instances, well known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. These embodiments are not to be construed as limitations on the specific examples described herein, but rather encompass all of the embodiments defined by the appended claims within their scope.

[0022] As noted above, current Wi-Fi standards require that wireless devices (e.g., STAs and / or APs) use a single block acknowledgment (BA) Allows to acknowledge the gated data frames. For example, a compressed block acknowledgment (CBA) frame typically includes an 8-octet block acknowledgment bitmap that can acknowledge receipt of up to 8 * 8 = 64 data frames. Thus, each bit in the block acknowledgment bitmap of the CBA frames may indicate whether a corresponding one of the 64 frames has been received (e.g., where each bit in the block acknowledgment bitmap corresponds (E.g., indicating success / failure) of the data frame.

[0023] Before a pair of wireless devices use BA frames to acknowledge each other's data transmissions, wireless devices may first negotiate capability information (e.g., buffer size and block acknowledgment policy) Enter the block acknowledgment setting step. Once the setup phase is complete, the wireless devices can send multiple frames to each other without waiting for individual ACK frames, and instead, the receiving wireless device can use the single BA frame to acknowledge reception of multiple data frames can do. Block acknowledgment agreements can be removed (e. G., Terminated) by sending DELBA (Delete Block Acknowledgment) frames to other wireless devices.

[0024] As mentioned above, it may be desirable to embed larger block acknowledgment bitmaps in the BA frames so that each BA frame can acknowledge a larger number of data frames. For example, increasing the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap from 8 bytes to 32 bytes may allow a single BA frame to acknowledge receipt of up to 32 * 8 = 256 data frames. Increasing the number of bits in the block acknowledgment bitmap increases the overall size of the BA frame, and thus also increases the overall size of the BA frame, and thus also the transmission duration of the BA frame (e.g., associated with transmitting a BA frame from one wireless device to another) Signal propagation time) can be increased. Increasing the transmission duration of BA frames may not be desirable due to non-compliance of one or more applicable provisions of the IEEE 802.11 standard family.

[0025] Thus, in accordance with some embodiments, wireless devices may increase the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap of the BA frame based at least in part on the transmission rate or link rate between wireless devices. For example, if the transmission rate between wireless devices is greater than a larger block acknowledgment bitmap (e.g., greater than 8) in a time amount similar to that associated with transmitting a block acknowledgment bitmap with 8 bytes at the basic transmission rate The wireless devices can use extended block acknowledgment (EBA) frames with increased block acknowledgment bitmap sizes if the frame size is high enough to transmit a block acknowledgment bitmap with many bytes. In this manner, wireless devices can embed larger block acknowledgment bitmaps into BA frames, without increasing BA frame transmission durations. Otherwise, the wireless devices may continue to use CBA frames with 8-byte block acknowledgment bitmaps if the transmission rate of the data frames is not sufficiently high (e.g., not greater than the threshold).

[0026] Thus, according to the embodiments, wireless devices can use an EBA frame with an n-octet block acknowledgment bitmap that allows acknowledgment of up to n * 8 data frames, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > and / or < / RTI > In at least some embodiments, the EBA frame may include a 32-octet block acknowledgment bitmap that allows the wireless device to acknowledge up to 32 * 8 = 256 data frames. These and other aspects of the embodiments are described in further detail below.

[0027] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless network system 100 in which some embodiments may be implemented. System 100 includes three wireless stations STA1-STA3 (three are illustrated for illustrative purposes only), a wireless access point (AP) 110, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) Lt; / RTI > The WLAN 120 may be formed by a plurality of APs capable of operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standards family (or in accordance with other suitable wireless protocols). Thus, although only one AP 110 is shown in FIG. 1 for simplicity, it is understood that the WLAN 120 may be formed by any number of access points, such as the AP 110. In addition, or alternatively, two or more of STA1-STA3 may communicate with each other using, for example, a peer-to-peer or ad-hoc network (e.g., without using AP 110) have.

[0028] For example, a unique MAC address programmed therein by the manufacturer of the access point is assigned to the AP 110. Likewise, a unique MAC address may also be assigned to each of STA1-STA3. Each MAC address, which in one embodiment may be commonly referred to as a "burned-in address" or an organizationally unique identifier (OUI), includes six bytes of data according to one embodiment. The first three bytes of the MAC address can identify which organization fabricated the device and can be assigned to such organizations by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The second three bytes of the MAC address may be used to uniquely identify the individual device.

The stations STA1-STA3 may be, for example, network-enabled sensors, memory tags (RFID tags), smart meters, cell phones, personal digital assistants, , Laptop computers, and the like, as well as any suitable Wi-Fi, enabled wireless devices. In at least some embodiments, stations STA1-STA3 may include a transceiver, one or more processing resources, one or more memory resources, and a power source (e.g., battery). Memory resources may include one or more non-volatile computer-readable media (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, hard drive, etc.) for storing instructions for performing the operations described below with respect to Figures 4A, 4B, Non-volatile memory elements).

The AP 110 may communicate with one or more wireless devices via the AP 110 using a Wi-Fi, WiMax, Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless communication standards to communicate with the network (e.g., LAN, WAN, MAN and / Or the Internet). ≪ / RTI > In at least one embodiment, the AP 110 may comprise a network interface, one or more processing resources, and one or more memory sources. Memory resources may include non-volatile computer-readable media (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, hard drives, etc.) for storing instructions for performing the operations described below with respect to Figures 4A, 4B, One or more non-volatile memory elements).

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates STA 200, which is one embodiment of at least one of stations STA1-STA3 of FIG. The STA 200 includes an antenna 210, a transceiver 220, a processor 230, and a memory 240. Transceiver 220 may be used to transmit signals to and receive signals from AP 110 and / or other STAs (see also Figure 1) via antenna 210. [ Transceiver 220 may also detect and identify neighboring access points (e.g., access points within range of STA 200) and / or other STAs using well known active and / or passive scanning techniques Can be used to scan the surrounding environment. Although only one antenna is shown for simplicity in FIG. 2, in actual embodiments, STA 200 may include any number of antennas to provide, for example, a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Lt; / RTI >

Memory 240 includes a number of mappings between modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) and data frame transmission rates (eg, PHY rates) used to transmit data frames to one or more other wireless devices Up table 242 that stores the transmission rate look-up table 242 that stores the transmission rate look-up table 242. For example, the transmission rate look-up table 242 may comprise a plurality of storage locations, each containing an MCS and a transmission rate for the corresponding device. This allows the STA 200 to retrieve the received data frame (s) by using the extracted MCS information as a search key to extract MCS information from the header of the data frame and then look up the transmission rate of the corresponding data frame Or data frames) of the mobile station. In some embodiments, the transmission rate look-up table 242 may be pre-populated (e.g., loaded with predetermined MCS-transmission rate mappings). In other embodiments, the STA 200 may dynamically store the MCS-to-transmission rate mappings in a transmission rate look-up table 242.

[0033] The memory 240 also includes non-volatile computer-readable media (e.g., one or more non-volatile memory elements such as EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, hard drive, etc.) capable of storing the following software modules: can do.

(E. G., Data frames, data frames, etc.), as described for operations 401,402 and 408 in Figure 4a and / or operations 601,602 and 610 in Figure 6, AC frames, BA frames, request frames, response frames, beacon frames, management frames, association frames, control frames, operation frames, management frames, etc.) A frame exchange software module 244;

(E. G., Transmit rate look-up < / RTI > as described for example in operation 404 of Figure 4A, operations 411-412 of Figure 4B and / or operation 604 of Figure 6) (E. G., By retrieving such information from table 242, or by extrapolating the transmission rate from the MCS information embedded in the received data frames) Module 246;

- Bitmap selection to select the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap to be embedded within the BA frame, for example, as described for operation 406 in FIG. 4A and / or operations 606 and 608 in FIG. 6 Software module 248; And

- Channel access deferral software module 249, which selectively defer access to wireless channels, for example, as described for operations 802, 804, 806, 808, and 810 in FIG.

Each software module includes instructions that, when executed by the processor 230, enable the STA 200 to perform corresponding functions.

The processor 230 coupled to the transceiver 220 and the memory 240 may execute scripts or instructions of one or more software programs stored in the STA 200 (e.g., in the memory 240) Lt; / RTI > may be any suitable processor. For example, processor 230 may execute frame-switching software module 244 to enable generation and / or exchange of various types of frames with one or more other wireless devices. The processor 230 may also execute a transmission rate determination software module 246 to determine a transmission rate of one or more frames received from another wireless device. The processor 230 may also select a bitmap selection bitmap to select the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap to be embedded within a block acknowledgment frame (e.g., either a CBA frame or an EBA frame) transmitted to one or more other wireless devices Software module 248 may be executed.

[0035] FIG. 3A shows a first frame exchange 300 between a first wireless device DEV1 and a second wireless device DEV2. DEV1 may be any suitable wireless device (e.g., one of AP 110 or STAs in FIG. 1) and DEV2 may be any suitable wireless device (e.g., Other of the STAs). DEV1 transmits a plurality of data frames 301 to DEV2 using one of a plurality of basic PHY transmission rates. For example, according to the current 802.11 standards family, compliant wireless devices are supposed to support basic transmission rates of 6 Mbps, 12 Mbps and 24 Mbps. For the exemplary frame exchange 300 shown in FIG. 3A, DEV 1 transmits data frames 301 at a basic transmission rate of 24 Mbps. When DEV2 receives data frames 301, DEV2 transmits CBA frame 302 at one of the basic transmission rates (e.g., 24 Mbps) to DEV1 Lt; / RTI >

[0036] As shown in Table 1 below, the CBA frame 302 typically includes a total of 32 bytes or octets of information: 2 bytes for the frame control (fc), for the virtual carrier sense duration (dur) 6 bytes for the transmitter address ta, 2 bytes for the block acknowledgment control (bac), 2 bytes for the block acknowledgment start sequence control (bassc) 2 bytes, 8 bytes for the block acknowledgment bitmap (bab), and 4 bytes for the frame check sequence (fcs). As noted above, the 8-byte block acknowledgment bitmap includes 8 * 8 = 64 bits that can be used to acknowledge receipt of up to 64 data frames 301. [

Table 1

[0037] In accordance with current Wi-Fi protocols, DEV2 may transmit a CBA frame 302 to DEV1 using a transmission rate that is (or lower) than the transmission rate of data frames 301. Thus, in the exemplary exchange 300 of FIG. 3A, DEV2 transmits a CBA frame 302 to DEV1 at a basic transmission rate of 24 Mbps. CBA frame 302 contains 32 bytes of information and has a transmission duration of approximately 32 microseconds at a basic (e.g., relatively low) transmission rate of 24 Mbps. At a basic transmission rate of 24 Mbps, an 8-byte block acknowledgment bitmap of the CBA frame 302 may fit in three data symbols, each containing a PPDU of 32 microseconds, including a 20 microsecond PHY header (PHY Protocol Data Unit) transmission duration of 4 占 퐏. Thus, in some embodiments, the 32 [mu] s duration may be referred to herein as the EBA reference duration, as described in more detail below. For other PHY rates (e.g., corresponding to various types and / or configurations of PHY devices), the EBA reference duration may be durations other than 32..

In accordance with these embodiments, the DEV 2 is configured to transmit a CBA frame having a relatively small block acknowledgment bitmap of, for example, eight bytes, rather than a CBA frame having a relatively small block acknowledgment bitmap, ) May be configured to acknowledge receipt of data frames from DEV1 by sending an EBA frame with a relatively large block acknowledgment bitmap. In some embodiments, the threshold is set such that when the transmission duration of the EBA frame is less than or equal to the CBA frame (for example, when the transmission duration of the EBA frame is equal to (or less than) Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > transmission rate < / RTI > In such embodiments, the minimum transmission rate (and thus the threshold) is based at least in part on the total size of the EBA frame, and thus also based at least in part on the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap in the EBA frame. Thus, in at least some embodiments, the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap embedded within the EBA frame may be selected based at least in part on the rate of transmission of data frames received from DEV1. In at least another embodiment, DEV2 may select between different predetermined BA frames (e. G., Either EBA frame or CBA frame) based at least in part on the transmission rate of the data frames received from DEV1.

[0039] For example, if the EBA frame contains a 32-byte block acknowledgment bitmap and thus contains a total of 56 bytes of information, when the transmission rate of the EBA frame is in the range of approximately 48 Mbps to approximately 54 Mbps , The EBA frame may be transmitted to DEV1 at approximately 32 [mu] s. Thus, referring now to FIG. 3B, when data frames 311 received from DEV1 are transmitted at a relatively high transmission rate of 48 Mbps (or greater), DEV2 includes a 32-byte block acknowledgment bitmap EBA frame 312 to DEV1 at a relatively high transmission rate of 48 Mbps (or greater). The transmission duration for the EBA frame 312 of Figure 3b is similar to the transmission duration for the CBA frame 302 of Figure 3a and at a relatively high transmission rate of 48 Mbps the 32- It is noted that the response bitmap may fit in three data symbols, each having a duration of 4 [mu] s for a total of 32 [mu] s PHY Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) transmission duration, including a 20 [mu] s PHY header.

A 32-byte block acknowledgment bitmap may be used to acknowledge up to 32 * 8 = 256 data frames 311 received from DEV1. Thus, when DEV2 is able to transmit an EBA frame 312 containing a 32-byte block acknowledgment bitmap instead of a CBA frame 302 containing an 8-byte block acknowledgment bitmap, The EBA frame 312 of FIG. 3B may be used to acknowledge data frames four times (for example, 64 * 4 = 256) times the number of CBA frames 302.

[0041] The wireless device DEV2 may determine the transmission rate of the received data frames 311 using any suitable techniques. In at least some embodiments, the DEV2 may determine the transmission rate of the received data frames 311 by extracting the MCS information embedded in the PHY header of the A-MPDU or PPDU comprising one or more data frames. The transmission rate of the data frames may be extrapolated (or otherwise derived) from the extracted MCS information. Alternatively, DEV2 may include the transmission rate look-up table 242 of FIG. 2 and may use the extracted MCS information as a navigation key to retrieve the corresponding transmission rate from the transmission rate look- have.

[0042] In some embodiments, the transmission rate of the EBA frame 312 may be greater than the transmission rate of the received data frames 311 (eg, outside the default transmission rate / MCS set) . In other embodiments, the transmission rate of the EBA frame 312 may be lower than the transmission rate of the received data frames 311, and in this case, the DEV2 determines whether to transmit the EBA frame 312, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 302, < / RTI > However, some upper bounds (e.g., 65 Mbps) may be used to prevent the transmission rate of the EBA frame 312 from becoming less than 24 μs (the shortest packet duration with one data symbol) Lt; / RTI >

[0043] By determining whether to acknowledge the received data frames using either the CBA frame or the EBA frame based at least in part on the transmission duration of the ACK frame, the third party STAs (which encode only the PHY portion of the data frame May determine the appropriate time to defer possible hiding response frame transmission due to the same transmission durations of the EBA frame and the CBA frame.

[0044] FIG. 4A is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation 400 for selecting a size of a block acknowledgment bitmap according to some embodiments. In at least one embodiment, operation 400 may be used to determine whether to acknowledge a number of frames transmitted from a first wireless device (DEV1) to a second wireless device (DEV2) using a CBA frame or an EBA frame . DEV2 receives (402) a plurality of data frames from DEV1 and determines a transmission rate of data frames (404). DEV2 then selects 406 the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap based at least in part on the determined transmission rate.

For example, DEV 2 may select (406 A) a relatively small size of the block acknowledgment bitmap (eg, coincide with a CBA frame) when the transmission rate is less than or equal to a threshold value, , The relatively large size of the block acknowledgment bitmap (e.g., associated with the EBA frame) may be selected 406B when the transmission rate is greater than the threshold. In some embodiments, a relatively small size may be denoted as an integer S, and a relatively large size may be denoted as an integer L that is at least twice the value of S.

DEV2 embeds the block acknowledgment bitmap of the selected size into the BA frame (408). DEV2 then transmits a BA frame to DEV1 (408), including a block acknowledgment bitmap of the selected size. The block acknowledgment bitmap allows DEV2 to acknowledge multiple frames (or aggregated frames) using a single BA frame, where each bit of the block acknowledgment bitmap is transmitted by DEV1 Acknowledging receipt of a corresponding one of the plurality of data frames.

[0047] FIG. 4B is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation 410 for determining a transmission rate of frames received from another wireless device in accordance with some embodiments. Initially, DEV2 may extract a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) from one of the received data frames (411). DEV2 may then determine the transmission rate of the received data frames based at least in part on the extracted MCS (412). In at least one embodiment, DEV2 generates (412A) a search key from an MCS and provides (412B) a search key to a look-up table that stores a number of mappings between MCS values and transmission rates (412C) to retrieve the determined transmission rate from the look-up table based at least in part on the transmission rate.

Referring again to FIG. 3A, in another embodiment, DEV 2 is configured to transmit a data frame at a rate that is less than or equal to the rate at which data frames are transmitted from DEV 1 to DEV 2, (E. G., Rather than a CBA frame containing a relatively small block acknowledgment bitmap) from the DEV1 by sending an EBA frame containing a relatively large block acknowledgment bitmap, , Where N is an integer greater than or equal to one. More specifically, for at least one of such other embodiments, DEV2 may be configured to select the largest block acknowledgment bitmap that may fit within the data symbols of the selected number (N) of EBA frames to be sent to DEV1 have. It is noted that when the link between DEV1 and DEV2 exhibits asymmetric properties, the transmission rate of the EBA frame may be greater than the transmission rate of the data frames.

[0049] In some embodiments, DEV2 determines the transmission rate at which data frames are transmitted from DEV1 to DEV2 (e.g., by decoding MCS information provided in one or more of the received data frames) It may use the determined transmission rate to select the highest possible response MCS to transmit the frame to DEV1. In the highest possible answer MCS, DEV2 may determine the maximum response MPDU size that can be transmitted in the selected number (N) of data symbols. Based at least in part on the maximum response MPDU size, DEV2 may determine the largest block acknowledgment bitmap that can be transmitted in the selected number (N) of data symbols. Based at least in part on the determined largest block acknowledgment bitmap, DEV2 may determine a response MCS in which the response BA frame with the largest determined block acknowledgment bitmap contains exactly the selected number (N) of data symbols . More generally, the device selects the largest possible block acknowledgment bitmap that can be transmitted in the maximum selected number (N) of symbols in the selected MCS, and then the BA frame contains exactly the selected number (N) of data symbols To send a BA frame with the selected block acknowledgment bitmap in the MCS.

[0050] An exemplary operation for selecting a maximum size of a block acknowledgment bitmap that can fit within a selected number of data symbols of a BA frame is described below in connection with the exemplary flowchart 500 of FIG. The second device DEV2 receives (502) a plurality of data frames from the first device (DEV1) and determines a transmission rate of the data frames (504). DEV2 then selects 506 a number (N) of data symbols from which the block acknowledgment bitmap can be transmitted to the first wireless device. Next, DEV2 determines 508 the maximum size of the block acknowledgment bitmap that can fit within the selected number (N) of data symbols.

[0051] In some embodiments, DEV2 may use the determined transmission rate to select the highest possible response MCS for transmitting the response frame to DEV1. At the highest possible answer MCS, DEV2 may determine the maximum response MPDU size that can be transmitted to DEV1 in the selected number (N) of data symbols. Based at least in part on the maximum response MPDU size, DEV2 may determine the largest block acknowledgment bitmap size that can be transmitted to DEV1 in the selected number (N) of data symbols. Based at least in part on the determined largest block acknowledgment bitmap, DEV2 may determine a response MCS in which the BA frame with the largest determined block acknowledgment bitmap contains exactly the selected number (N) of data symbols.

[0052] Then, DEV2 transmits a BA frame including the determined maximum size block acknowledgment bitmap (510).

[0053] By sending a BA frame containing the largest possible block acknowledgment bitmap to the first wireless device, the second wireless device uses the single block acknowledgment frame to transmit the largest possible number of received data frames to the acknowledgment Which in turn can reduce the number of ACK frames needed to acknowledge receipt of data frames in turn.

[0054] The operation described above can be defined as the following response rule.

1. An STA that transmits a BA frame as a response on a link supporting an EBA must have a transmission duration that is less than or equal to the data rate of a PPDU that includes an MPDU that is supported on the link and that has the same duration as the EBA reference duration, Uses a PHY mode with a data rate and matches the largest possible EBA frame with the same channel bandwidth as the PPDU. The EBA reference duration may be determined by sending an EBA frame in the A-MPDU, adding EOF padding, and / or including multiple instances of the EBA frame in the A-MPDU. In this way, the response rule can cause every respective response EBA frame to have the same transmission duration as the dynamic EIFS duration.

2. The STA receiving the response EBA frame sends an ACK or other MPDU in response to the received EBA frame. In this way, the EIFS duration initiated by the transmission of the EBA frame is truncated at the devices receiving the ACK frame or another MPDU.

[0055] In some embodiments, the new rules (hereinafter referred to as EIFS rules) are such that when there are problems decoding the MAC portions of the received PPDUs, the receiving devices may use the DCF interframe space durations instead of DIFS Can be used to prevent using extended interframe space (EIFS) durations. For example, in accordance with current IEEE 802.11 protocols, a receiving device that is unable to decode one or more portions of a received frame (e.g., due to errors in the frame) may have its own backoff as an EIFS duration instead of the DIFS duration . This allows a possible ACK frame to be transmitted without interference from the receiving device. Typically, the EIFS duration is equal to the sum of the transmission duration of the ACK frame (at the lowest underlying transmission rate) and the duration of the SIFS duration and the DIFS duration.

Thus, in at least some embodiments, if a PPDU having a selected number (N) of data symbols is received by the receiving device, even though one or more portions of the BA frame may not be decoded by the receiving device, The new EIFS rules may specify that the EIFS duration may not delay the transmission of BA frames. In this way, idle transmission periods can be reduced by using a DIFS duration rather than an EIFS duration. More generally, if a PPDU having a duration equal to the duration of the CBA frame transmitted at the basic MCS / rate or PHY mandatory MCS. Rate is received (e.g., if the transmission duration of the PPDU is equal to (or less than ), The EIFS duration may be reduced to a DIFS duration. Thus, when no frames are requested (e.g., block ACK frames) with no response, those frames for which no response is requested will cause the EIFS not to start at the peripheral devices, This is desirable because no response is expected after the frame (e. G., No EIFS protection is required). For example, the duration of a CBA frame in 24 Mbps OFDM is 32 ㎲, which, as mentioned above, can be referred to as the EBA reference duration.

Thus, if a PPDU with a transmission duration of 32 μs is received, then an EIFS duration (if one is needed) can be reduced to a DIFS duration, and any BA frame larger than the CBA frame will have a transmission duration of the BA frame exactly Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > MCS / rate. ≪ / RTI > If a short frame is transmitted and a response frame is expected from the receiving device, then the transmitting device can be configured such that the resulting padded PPDU does not include a selected number (N) of data symbols (e.g., a padded PPDU has more than N data symbols May be padded with a short frame. Short frames may be padded using any suitable technique, including, for example, MPDU delimiters indicating zero length and / or end of frame (EOF) delimiters.

[0058] In another embodiment, only PPDUs containing MPDUs of the same size of EBA frames can be prevented (by new EIFS rules) to use EIFS duration rather than DIFS duration. Some exemplary EBA frame sizes (e.g., MPDU sizes) are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2

[0059] Figure 6 also shows a table 600 illustrating exemplary sizes of EBA frames and their corresponding transmission durations for various transmission rates.

[0060] In some embodiments, the EBA frame uses the format of the CBA frame and assigns the reserved value of the variant encoding of the BA frame to indicate that the frame contains a larger bitmap than normally associated with the CBA frame . For example, Table 3 below illustrates an exemplary format for EBA frames containing a 32-byte block acknowledgment bitmap.

Table 3

[0061] An exemplary encoding for block ACK frame variants is shown in Table 4 below.

Table 4

[0062] As shown in exemplary table 4, the encoded value "111" may be used to denote the EBA frame format and the encoded value "100" may be used to denote the extended CBA frame format. The extended CBA frame format is the same as the CBA frame format except that flow control information is added. The value "100" should not be confused with the EBA frame format described herein.

[0063] The length of the block acknowledgment bitmap may be encoded with one or more reserved bits of the Block Ack Control (bac) field, as shown in Table 5 below.

Table 5

[0064] The length of the block acknowledgment bitmap may also be encoded using bits in the bitmap size field of the block acknowledgment control (bac) field. Exemplary values of the bitmap size field and the corresponding sizes of the block acknowledgment bitmap are shown in Table 6 below.

Table 6

로 표현될 수 있고, 여기서 b는 비트맵 크기 필드 값을 표기한다. 예를 들면, 32 바이트들, 64 바이트들, 128 바이트들 및 256 바이트들의 블록 확인응답 비트맵 크기들은 각각 0, 1, 2 및 3과 동일한 b에 의해 표기될 수 있다. [0065] According to the exemplary mapping shown in Table 5, the block acknowledgment bitmap size S is

, Where b represents the bitmap size field value. For example, the block acknowledgment bitmap sizes of 32 bytes, 64 bytes, 128 bytes, and 256 bytes may be denoted by b equal to 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

의 크기들에 의해 정의됨)의 블록 확인응답 비트맵들이 그러한 EBA 프레임들의 3 개의 데이터 심볼들(예를 들면, 32 ㎲의 송신 듀레이션에 의해 표시됨)에 맞을 수 있는 PHY 레이트들은 각각, 도 6에 표시된 바와 같이, 대략 48 Mbps, 63 Mbps, 103 Mbps 및 188 Mbps와 대략 동일하다.[0066] Corresponding EBA frames and transmission durations are shown in FIG. The sizes (32 bytes, 128 bytes, 512 bytes and 2048 bytes) (e.g.,

The PHY rates that the block acknowledgment bitmaps of the EBA frames can fit into the three data symbols of the EBA frames (indicated by, for example, the transmission duration of 32 [mu] s) As indicated, it is approximately equal to approximately 48 Mbps, 63 Mbps, 103 Mbps and 188 Mbps.

로서 정의하는 것 대신에, 블록 확인응답 비트맵 크기는

로서 표현될 수 있다. 따라서, 이것은, 아래의 표 7에 도시된 바와 같이, 0, 1, 2 및 3과 동일한 b의 값들 각각에 대한 32 바이트들, 128 바이트들, 512 바이트들 및 2048 바이트들의 블록 확인응답 비트맵 크기들을 표기할 수 있다. Since the transmission rates (eg, PHY rates) are relatively close to each other, the block acknowledgment bitmap of the EBA frame can fit within three data symbols for various block acknowledgment bitmap sizes , It may be possible to increase the size difference between the various block acknowledgment bitmaps. For example, if the block acknowledgment bitmap size (as shown in Table 5)

, The block acknowledgment bitmap size is < RTI ID = 0.0 >

. ≪ / RTI > Thus, this is the size of the block acknowledgment bitmap size of 32 bytes, 128 bytes, 512 bytes and 2048 bytes for each of the values of b equal to 0, 1, 2 and 3, as shown in Table 7 below. Can be indicated.

Table 7

의 크기들에 의해 정의됨)의 블록 확인응답 비트맵들이 EBA 프레임들의 3 개의 데이터 심볼들에 맞을 수 있는 PHY 레이트들은 각각 48 Mbps, 103 Mbps, 359 Mbps 및 1383 Mbps와 대략 동일하다. 이와 대조적으로, 크기들(32 바이트들, 64 바이트들, 128 바이트들 및 256 바이트들)(예를 들면,

의 크기들에 의해 정의됨)의 블록 확인응답 비트맵들이 그러한 EBA 프레임들의 3 개의 데이터 심볼들에 맞을 수 있는 PHY 레이트들은 각각 대략 48 Mbps, 63 Mbps, 103 Mbps 및 188 Mbps와 동일하다.[0068] The sizes (32 bytes, 128 bytes, 512 bytes and 2048 bytes) (e.g.,

) Are approximately equal to 48 Mbps, 103 Mbps, 359 Mbps, and 1383 Mbps, respectively, where the block acknowledgment bitmaps can fit into the three data symbols of the EBA frames. In contrast, sizes (32 bytes, 64 bytes, 128 bytes and 256 bytes) (e.g.,

) Are equal to approximately 48 Mbps, 63 Mbps, 103 Mbps and 188 Mbps, respectively, for the three data symbols of such EBA frames.

[0069] In at least some embodiments, the encoded value "101" associated with the BA frame variant encoding may instead represent an EBA format with a flow control (fc) extension, as shown in Table 8 below. have.

Table 8

[0070] Note that the block acknowledgment bitmap size may be encoded in the block access control (bac) field for EBA frame format with flow control (fc) and / or EBA frame format without flow control.

[0071] In other embodiments, extended block acknowledgment frames may include a block ACK control (bac) of compressed block ACK frames or extended compressed block ACK frames, as shown in Table 9, Field is defined within the compressed block ACK frame variant by adding a bitmap size field to the field.

Table 9

[0072] Exemplary lengths of block acknowledgment bitmaps encoded using the newly defined bitmap size field of the block acknowledgment control (bac) field of the compressed block ACK frames or extended compressed block ACK frames are shown in Table 10.

Table 10

[0073] In some embodiments, a value of 0 in the bitmap size field is inevitably reserved for an 8-octet block acknowledgment bitmap. This value may be mapped to existing compressed block ACK frames or extended compressed block ACK frames.

As previously mentioned, the EIFS rules disclosed herein allow for receiving devices to use extended interframe space (EIFS) instead of DIFS (DCF interframe space) durations when there are problems decoding the MAC portions of received data frames. Can be used to prevent the use of durations. In at least some embodiments, the wireless device may determine the transmission duration of the received data frame over the channel. If the transmit duration of the received data frame is equal to the specified duration (e.g., the transmit duration of the received data frame is equal to the EBA frame based duration), the wireless device uses the EIFS duration to defer access to the channel Can be prevented. In at least one other embodiment, the wireless device may be prevented from using the EIF duration to defer access to the channel if the transmission duration of the received data frame is below some specified duration.

[0075] In another embodiment, the wireless device may determine the number of data symbols used to transmit the data frame. If the number of data symbols equals the specified number, the wireless device can be prevented from using the EIFS duration to defer access to the channel. In another embodiment, the wireless device transmitting the A-MPDU may determine the number of data symbols required to transmit the A-MPDU in the designated MCS. The wireless device may determine one or more zero-length MPDU separators (e.g., so that the number of data symbols required to transmit an extended A-MPDU at a specified MCS exceeds a specified number) An A-MPDU can be formed by adding to the A-MPDU.

[0076] In another embodiment, the wireless device transmitting the A-MPDU may determine the number of data symbols required to transmit the A-MPDU in the designated MCS. The wireless device then determines if the number of data symbols is equal to or less than a specified number (e.g., so that the number of data symbols required to transmit an extended A-MPDU at a specified MCS exceeds a specified number) The extended A-MPDU can be formed by adding the length MPDU separators to the A-MPDU.

[0077] As noted above, some embodiments may also be implemented in a system that has a response EBA (eg, equal to an EBA reference duration of, for example, 32 μs) when there are problems decoding the MAC portions of the response frame It is possible to define EIFS rules that prevent devices receiving frames from delaying media access by a regular EIFS duration. In some embodiments, the EIFS time after the EBA frame appears may be defined to be equal to the DIFS time. This captures the case where no response frame is transmitted after the EBA frame.

[0078] In other embodiments, the receiving device may truncate the EIFS duration for media access deferment in response to an EBA frame by sending an ACK frame after the SIFS duration. For example, FIG. 7A shows a sequence diagram 710 illustrating an exemplary frame exchange with a response EBA frame and dual EIFS truncation according to some embodiments. First, DEV1 transmits A-MPDU to DEV2 at a transmission rate of 65 Mbps. DEV2 receives the A-MPDU and, after SIFS duration, sends the response EBA frame from 48 Mbps to DEV1. The EBA frame has a transmission duration of 32 [mu] s, which for the purposes of this example is the same as the EBA reference duration and therefore the EIFS rule may be applicable. However, rather than initiating EIFS durations or shortening EIFS durations to DIFS durations when there are errors in the EBA frame, DEV2 only waits for a SIFS duration and then transmits an ACK (e.g., at the lowest basic transmission rate of 6 Mbps) Frame.

[0079] At the same time, after a SIFS duration, DEV1 can transmit an ACK frame (eg, at the lowest basic transmission rate of 6 Mbps). The AC frames transmitted by DEV1 and DEV2 may contain the same content (e.g., the same scrambler seed in the PHY header and the same receiver address). The receiver addresses may be the same as the MAC address of DEV1 or DEV2 depending on the set convention. In at least one embodiment, the duration field of the MAC headers in both ACK frames may be set to a value of zero. Instead of an ACK frame, DEV1 and / or DEV2 may transmit a CF-End frame having the same values for address fields, duration field and scrambler seed, and in this case the pending Network Allocation Vector (NAV) .

[0080] Transmission of the ACK frame at the lowest base rate allows other devices close to DEV1 and DEV2 (eg, in the wireless range of DEV1 and DEV2) (eg, an FCS with an ACK frame checked Check Sequence) to prevent the EIFS duration from starting after receiving an ACK frame. In this manner, the transmission of ACK frames from DEV1 and / or DEV2 after the SIFS duration can essentially truncate the EIFS duration of such other nearby devices, thereby also minimizing the idle time and potential unfair channel access of the wireless medium .

When DEV2 acknowledges reception of A-MPDU from DEV1 by transmitting an EBA frame to DEV1, DEV1 and DEV2 may be relatively close to each other. Also, if DEV1 and DEV2 are relatively close to each other (e. G., Less than a critical distance from each other), other devices close to DEV1 and DEV2 can receive and respond to frames transmitted from DEV1. As a result, in other embodiments, only DEV1 can transmit an ACK frame after the SIFS duration is initiated in response to an EBA frame. For example, FIG. 7B shows a sequence diagram 720 illustrating a frame exchange with a response EBA frame and a single EIFS truncation according to some embodiments. One advantage of the sequence diagram 720 of FIG. 7B (as compared to the sequence diagram 710 of FIG. 7A) is that since DEV 1 can gain access to the medium only after the SIFS duration after transmitting the response EBA frame , No signaling is required for the A-MPDU frame transmitted at 65 Mbps. Instead of an ACK frame, DEV1 may also send a CF-End frame to truncate the NAV.

[0082] FIG. 7C shows a sequence diagram illustrating a frame exchange 730 through a response EBA frame, a single EIFS truncation, and an EIFS duration after an EBA frame, in accordance with some embodiments. The frame exchange shown in FIG. 7C is similar to the frame exchange of FIG. 7B, while providing symmetrical protection in a manner similar to the frame exchange shown in FIG. 7A. 7C, when DEV1 receives a frame in which a response EBA frame (PPDU with a transmission duration of 32 mu s for OFDM, HT and / or VHT PHY devices) or a response frame appears, DEV1 Initiates an EIFS duration that can last for the same amount of time as the sum of the transmission duration (T _ACK ) of the ACK frame transmitted by DEV1 (including the previous SIFS) and the DIFS duration. In such embodiments, the duration field of the EBA frame indicates the NVA duration of at least the same time period as the SIFS duration + T _ACK .

와 동일한 동적 EIFS 듀레이션이 되는 것을 명시하는 동적 EIFS 규칙에 의해 대체될 수 있다. 이러한 예에서, 동적 EIFS 듀레이션 = 16 + 28 + 34 = 78 ㎲이다. 듀레이션 필드의 값은

로서 표현될 수 있다.[0083] For example, when DEV1 transmits a termination ACK frame at the highest basic transmission rate of 24 Mbps, the EIFS rule described above is based on the assumption that the device has a transmission duration of 32 μs at a data rate greater than or equal to 24 Mbps ≪ / RTI > the EIFS duration < RTI ID = 0.0 >

≪ / RTI > and dynamic EIFS rules that specify the same dynamic EIFS duration as < RTI ID = 0.0 > In this example, the dynamic EIFS duration = 16 + 28 + 34 = 78 ㎲. The value of the duration field is

. ≪ / RTI >

와 동일하다는 것을 명시할 수 있다. 이러한 예에서, 동적 EIFS 듀레이션 = 16 + 44 + 34 = 94 ㎲이다. 듀레이션 필드의 값은

로서 표현될 수 있다. 이러한 예에 대한 예시적인 프레임 교환이 도 7d에 도시된다. [0084] For a termination ACK frame transmitted at the lowest basic transmission rate of 6 Mbps, the dynamic EIFS rule is such that when a device receives a frame with a transmission duration of 32 μs at a data rate greater than or equal to 24 Mbps, Dynamic EIFS Duration

And the like. In this example, the dynamic EIFS duration = 16 + 44 + 34 = 94 mu s. The value of the duration field is

. ≪ / RTI > An exemplary frame exchange for this example is shown in Figure 7d.

[0085] FIG. 7d shows a sequence diagram 740 illustrating frame exchanges via an EBA response frame, a single EIFS truncation, and an EIFS duration after an EBA frame according to other embodiments. The appropriate value of the duration field of the EBA frame may be provided or assigned by including an ACK frame in the duration field setting of the A-MPDU that includes the block ACK request. In some embodiments, the ACK frame shown in Figures 7C and / or 7D may also be CF-End, in which case the EIFS duration is slightly longer (EIFS = 78 [mu] s for 24 Mbps CF- EIFS = 102 [mu] s for a 6 Mbps CF-End frame).

For frames that do not contain a duration value (e.g., Protocol Version 1 (PV1) frames), the EIFS duration may also indicate that the FCS is correct And in this case, the EIFS duration (or other access deferral period) may be based at least in part on the ACK indication in the PHY header. One example of PV1 frames without an ACK indication in the PHY headers is the PV1 frame transmitted using OFDM, HT or VHT modulation in the 5 GHz band.

[0087] In alternative embodiments, to disconnect any EIFS duration that begins after a response EBA frame, the recipient of the response EBA may initiate an RTS / CTS frame exchange, which in turn causes the EIFS duration to become dynamic EIFS rules to be symmetrically truncated (without paying additional RTS frames). For example, FIG. 7E shows a sequence diagram 750 illustrating a frame exchange with a response EBA frame, a single EIFS truncation, and an EIFS duration after an EBA frame according to yet another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7E, after transmission of the response EBA frame, DEV1 waits for a SIFS duration and then transmits an RTS frame to DEV2 at 24 Mbps (with a transmission duration of 44 mu s). DEV2 receives the RTS frame and, after SIFS duration, transmits the CTS frame from 24 Mbps to DEV1. Since dynamic EIFS rules for RTS frames are already defined, EIFS truncation can be performed.

[0088] The EIFS rules described herein can be defined as follows. The data rate of the PHY's highest mandatory non-HT rate is referred to as the EBA reference rate. The duration required to transmit the CBA frame at the EBA reference rate is referred to as the EBA reference duration. For example, the highest mandatory non-HT rate for HT PHY is 24 Mbps, so the EBA reference rate for HT is 24 Mbps. At 24 Mbps, the duration of the CBA frame (including 32 octets) is 32 ㎲, so the EBA reference duration for VHT is 32 ㎲.

와 동일하고, 여기서

는 EBA 기준 레이트에 적어도 부분적으로 기초한 ACK 프레임의 추정된 송신 듀레이션이다. 예를 들면, HT PHY에서, EIFS 듀레이션은 16 + 28 + 34 = 78 ㎲와 동일하다. 이것은, EBA 기준 듀레이션과 동일한 듀레이션의 PPDU가 EBA 프레임과 매우 유사하고 이것이 응답 ACK가 전송되게 할 수 있다는 것을 반영한다. [0089] Also, when the PPDU causing the device to start the EIFS duration has a transmission duration equal to the EBA reference duration and has a data rate greater than the EBA reference rate, the EIFS duration

≪ / RTI >

Is the estimated transmission duration of the ACK frame based at least in part on the EBA reference rate. For example, in HT PHY, the EIFS duration is equal to 16 + 28 + 34 = 78 μs. This reflects that the PPDU of the same duration as the EBA reference duration is very similar to the EBA frame and that this can cause a response ACK to be sent.

[0090] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation 800 for deferring access to a wireless channel in accordance with some embodiments. First, the wireless device receives the aggregated data frame from the other device over the wireless channel, and the aggregated data frame includes one or more decoding errors (802). The wireless device then determines the transmission duration of the aggregated data frame (804). The wireless device then defer (806) access to the channel for a selected time period as either the EIFS duration or the DIFS duration based at least in part on the transmission duration.

[0091] More specifically, in at least some embodiments, the wireless device may select (806A) the time period as the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to the specified duration, and when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration The DIFS duration may be selected as a time period (806B).

[0092] Next, the wireless device may transmit a block acknowledgment frame to another device after a period of time (808). Thereafter, in at least some embodiments, the wireless device may transmit (810) a single acknowledgment frame to another device after a short interframe space (SIFS) duration initiated after sending the block acknowledgment frame.

[0093] In the foregoing description, the embodiments have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader scope of the present disclosure set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (28)

A method performed at a wireless device to confirm receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors,
Determining a transmission duration of an aggregated data frame received from another device over a wireless channel, and
Deferring access to the channel for a selected time period as either an extended interframe space (EIFS) duration or a distributed coordination function (DCF) interframe space duration based at least in part on the transmission duration ,
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the time period is selected as the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration,
Wherein the time duration is selected as the DIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration,
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the deferring comprises:
Preventing the wireless device from selecting the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration, and
And allowing the wireless device to select the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration.
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the transmission duration is determined using a number of data symbols used to transmit the aggregated data frame to the wireless device,
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the time period is selected as the EIFS duration when the number of data symbols is less than or equal to a specified number,
Wherein the time period is selected as the DIFS duration when the number of data symbols is greater than the designated number,
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. The method according to claim 1,
Sending a block acknowledgment frame to the other device after the time period; and
Further comprising: sending a single acknowledgment frame to the other device after a short interframe space (SIFS) duration that begins after transmitting the block acknowledgment frame.
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the single acknowledgment frame is transmitted at a basic rate and instructs neighboring wireless devices to refrain from delaying access to the channel by the EIFS duration.
Wherein the method is performed at the wireless device to confirm receipt of the aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors,
Processor, and
A memory for storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless device to:
Determine the transmission duration of the aggregated data frame received from the other device over the wireless channel, and
And delaying access to the channel for a selected time period as either an extended interframe space (EIFS) duration or a distributed coordination function (DCF) interframe space duration based at least in part on the transmission duration.
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 9. The method of claim 8,
The execution of the instructions causes the wireless device to:
To select the time period as the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration, and
And to select the time period as the DIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration.
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 9. The method of claim 8,
The execution of the instructions,
Preventing the wireless device from selecting the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration, and
Allowing the wireless device to select the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration
Deferring access to the channel,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the transmission duration is determined using a number of data symbols used to transmit the aggregated data frame to the wireless device,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 12. The method of claim 11,
The execution of the instructions causes the wireless device to:
To select the time period as the EIFS duration when the number of data symbols is less than or equal to a specified number, and
And to select the time period as the DIFS duration when the number of data symbols is greater than the designated number,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 9. The method of claim 8,
The execution of the instructions further causes the wireless device to:
Cause the block acknowledgment frame to be transmitted to the other device after the time period, and
Cause a single acknowledgment frame to be transmitted to the another device after a short interframe space (SIFS) duration started after transmitting the block acknowledgment frame.
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the single acknowledgment frame is transmitted at a basic rate and instructs neighboring wireless devices to refrain from delaying access to the channel by the EIFS duration.
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions,
The program instructions causing the wireless device to perform operations when executed by a processor of the wireless device,
Determining an transmission duration of an aggregated data frame received from another device over a wireless channel, the aggregated data frame comprising one or more decoding errors; and
Deferring access to a channel for a selected time period as either an extended interframe space (EIFS) duration or a distributed coordination function (DCF) interframe space duration based at least in part on the transmission duration.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. 16. The method of claim 15,
Execution of instructions to defer access to the channel causes the wireless device to:
To select the time period as the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration, and
And to select the time period as the DIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. 16. The method of claim 15,
Execution of instructions to defer access to the channel causes the wireless device to:
Prevent the wireless device from selecting the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration, and
Allowing the wireless device to select the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the transmission duration is determined using a number of data symbols used to transmit the aggregated data frame to the wireless device,
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. 19. The method of claim 18,
The execution of the instructions causes the wireless device to:
To select the time period as the EIFS duration when the number of data symbols is less than or equal to a specified number, and
And to select the time period as the DIFS duration when the number of data symbols is greater than the designated number,
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. 16. The method of claim 15,
The execution of the instructions further causes the wireless device to:
Cause the block acknowledgment frame to be transmitted to the other device after the time period, and
Cause a single acknowledgment frame to be transmitted to the another device after a short interframe space (SIFS) duration started after transmitting the block acknowledgment frame.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. 21. The method of claim 20,
Wherein the single acknowledgment frame is transmitted at a basic rate and instructs neighboring wireless devices to refrain from delaying access to the channel by the EIFS duration.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions. A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors,
Means for determining a transmission duration of an aggregated data frame received from another device over a wireless channel, and
And means for deferring access to the channel for a selected time period as either an extended interframe space (EIFS) duration or a distributed coordination function (DCF) interframe space duration based at least in part on the transmission duration doing,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 23. The method of claim 22,
Wherein the time period is selected as the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration,
Wherein the time duration is selected as the DIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 23. The method of claim 22,
The means for deferring comprises:
Preventing the wireless device from selecting the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is less than or equal to a specified duration, and
Allowing the wireless device to select the EIFS duration when the transmission duration is greater than the specified duration,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 23. The method of claim 22,
Wherein the transmission duration is determined using a number of data symbols used to transmit the aggregated data frame to the wireless device,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 26. The method of claim 25,
Wherein the time period is selected as the EIFS duration when the number of data symbols is less than or equal to a specified number,
Wherein the time period is selected as the DIFS duration when the number of data symbols is greater than the designated number,
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 24. The method of claim 23,
Means for transmitting a block acknowledgment frame to said another device after said time period, and
Further comprising means for transmitting a single acknowledgment frame to the other device after a short interframe space (SIFS) duration that begins after transmitting the block acknowledgment frame.
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors. 28. The method of claim 27,
Wherein the single acknowledgment frame is transmitted at a basic rate and instructs neighboring wireless devices to refrain from delaying access to the channel by the EIFS duration.
A wireless device for confirming receipt of aggregated data comprising one or more decoding errors.

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